I am Tzeit von Harnow, once chief court mage of the fallen Lutrine Empire. Born a minor royal—second son of the fourth concubine, 11th in line for the throne—my claim was negligible. My mother's kin lost influence in courtly power struggles. A caged bird, I was seen as a pawn for hostage exchanges or diplomatic marriages by my own father.
My life changed unexpectedly. Sent as a hostage to the Hansa Republic, I met an old mage, Burkhart, who saw my magical talent and mentored me. He taught me with a fatherly warmth I'd never known, having grown without parental love. I worked tirelessly, striving to honor him as both teacher and father. Those five years as a hostage were my happiest, shining moments. Unrecognized at first, I earned respect, becoming Burkhart's top disciple.
Irony struck. Just as I became a mage in my own right, Lutrine recalled me and declared war on Hansa. I faced my mentor in battle. My life was Lutrine's tool—sent to countless wars, my wife a princess from a defeated nation, forced upon me in power plays. She took her life the day after our wedding night, leaving a letter cursing me.
In the end, fearing my power, the king united neighboring nations, framed me for war crimes, and executed me to quell public unrest and solidify his rule. I knew he distrusted me but never expected a father to kill his son. My naivety was my downfall. Refusing to die quietly, I crafted this magical labyrinth, sealing my soul in a bracelet to one day possess and be reborn through a conqueror. Gifted with "spatial creation," I built this labyrinth, storing my wealth and soul, believing someone would come. My body was executed, but my soul endured.
After 300 years, these sleeping fools below are the first to arrive.
"A warrior as my father? I'm done with power struggles. A free second life suits me. Status and power are burdens; my amassed wealth ensures comfort. Adventuring could be fun."
No matter how long I live, my soft nature may persist, but I crave freedom.
Reading the warrior's memories…
"Hmm, second son of a baron. Mediocre, but fulfilling the prince's request could elevate him. Can he protect me for the decade I'm defenseless during soul integration?"
Rebirth requires being born as his child, merging with the child's soul over a decade, leaving me vulnerable with no self-awareness.
"With a kingdom in crisis, nobles face purges if defeated…"
Waiting for others risks my time. This sealed labyrinth was a special entry. Waiting for a search party? No, too many would disrupt the ritual, which takes time and risks failure if interrupted.
"I don't mind bad odds. Very well, Dirk. Be my father. To save this kingdom, kill the king. The prince seems competent. Half my treasure should ensure victory. A faux benevolent king is a hindrance in a crisis."
I pour over half my mana and part of my soul into a Create Creature spell, summoning Scarab Sacre, a 5cm insect with dragon-killing poison. Using Dirk's memories of the king, it'll infiltrate the palace, eliminate him, and guard me until my mana fades.
"Now, to tie loose ends. You'll believe you fulfilled the guild's quest. This labyrinth was a treasure vault. Once you remove it all, it vanishes. That's the story."
I alter their memories—knight, priestess, mage, thief—making them believe they're heroes.
"Hahaha, behold the rebirth ritual… Mortal, Mortal, N'Di Tu…"
A burst of light fills the room, then silence.
"Dirk, we did it! Incredible treasure!" Yennie clings to Dirk. Understandable—the room's piled with riches, enough to fund the army.
"Yeah… quest complete. A sealed labyrinth hiding a treasure vault?"
"Let's call engineers," Geryon says. "Move the treasure before this weird labyrinth vanishes."
"Right. We succeeded. This'll fund Emden's war against Kotopus."
That day, Emden rejoiced. Prince Aurel's treasure discovery averted collapse. Guild quests spread word; moving the treasure made it public. Citizens were furious—invaded, loved ones killed, yet the king settled for pushing enemies out, even aiding their civilians. Normally, you prioritize your people, retaliate, seize land for wealth. Armies were ready to invade, but King Alexic III proposed using the treasure for reconstruction and a ceasefire with Kotopus.
"War begets war. Someone must lower their spear to end hatred's cycle. We choose peace."
Noble words, but nobles and citizens, burdened by war, wouldn't accept it. Emden needed to conquer Kotopus, seize resources, and enslave its people to recover. The treasure couldn't cover all costs. Alexic, unyielding, lost legitimacy. Then, he died suddenly—poisoned, an obvious murder. Prince Aurel blamed Kotopus spies, announcing it widely, and launched a retaliatory invasion.
"Assassinating a king seeking peace is unforgivable! Right is ours!"
Aurel led the charge. He sent envoys to Baringen and Urum, presenting (fabricated) evidence of Kotopus's crime, warning against interference. Kotopus, allied with Urum, had invaded Emden, but Baringen, the weakest of the four neighbors, couldn't oppose both. Aurel I's victory erased Kotopus from the map. Its citizens faced reparations, stripped of wealth, enslaved. Harsh, but necessary for Emden's recovery. Kotopus's emperor and kin faced public execution, ending its 50-year reign.
"I am reborn…"
My soul settled, consciousness returns. I'm in a bedroom, on a plush canopied bed, surrounded by fine furnishings. No one's here.
"My father's risen high…"
On this soft bed, I sift through my false memories. My position is precarious. After the war, my father, Dirk, fought valiantly. Many nobles died, so King Aurel I granted new titles. Dirk became a baron but gained no land, still serving as deputy knight commander. Old nobles outrank new ones, but Dirk's feats earned him Erna, second daughter of Viscount Arnold, as his wife. My mother, Yennie, the priestess from the labyrinth, was a concubine but died of illness—suspiciously, for a high priestess. I've seen courtly intrigues; it's unsurprising. I'm the eldest son, but from a commoner concubine. Erna's son, Ingo, a year younger, has noble blood.
"This is bad. Very bad."
Nobility prizes lineage. I'm treated well as Dirk's heir, but my blood's inferior. Ingo, from Erna's noble line, is favored. Dirk's insistence keeps me as heir, but inheriting House Barei brings issues. My allies are Dirk and Ilmera, my late mother's maid, now mine. Ilmera, an orphan Yennie raised, is loyal and briefly adventured as a priestess.
"Where's Scarab Sacre?"
At my call, Scarab Sacre flies from the ceiling, circling, landing on the blanket.
"Come to me…"
Cupping it, I absorb its memories, soul, and remaining mana. Overwhelmed, I collapse with a fever.
"Ugh, this weak body… I must retrain…"
Ilmera clings to me, sobbing. I calm her, begging her not to tell the family. Dirk's on duty, so deceiving them is easy. Oddly, I can't be stern with her, now or before. She feeds me nutritious soup with teary eyes. Never having been so cared for, I'm touched.
"Open wide."
"I can feed myself…"
"No. Open wide."
"It's embarrassing…"
"Don't you like my care?"
Her teary gaze defeats even a former chief mage. I surrender.
"Fine… ahh."
My first "open wide" in this life.